What a great way to put it!! I loved playing guitar for years, until one gig when I suddenly “woke up” in the middle of a song and realised I’d become so used to playing that I no longer had to think about it at all. It was nothing more than muscle memory and playing guitar had become so pedestrian to me. Can’t think how long it was until I actually quit the band and stopped playing guitar altogether, but it wasn’t long.

Since taking up the drums though, I have a whole new passion for music. I’ll lie in bed with my mp3 player blasting out my latest recordings and I’ll have a stupid grin on my face, thinking “jeez… that’s me” because I never thought I’d be able to play drums at all, let alone at this level.

I think you’re right about the game conflict though – if I don’t know the song, I’m generally better at playing it on GH because I just read whatever is on screen. If I know the song, I know my fingers should be doing a lot more and using that same finger over and over is alien to me, so I’ll naturally want to play along with it like I would on my actual guitar.

I will not be beaten… I will give it another shot, and I shall PREVAIL!!!

To explain. I love my real guitar because it is a thing of beauty, because of the endless creative opportunity it offers, and because of the long, arduous hours we have spent together learning the solo’s note by painful note. To contrast, I love Gh because it allows me to achieve things which at this point in time my real guitar doesn’t, in other words, because of the quick thrill, the instant gratification.

I find that to truly appreciate GH the trick is to distance yourself from the idea that your supposed to be playing a musical instrument, and treat it as a reaction game with a really good soundtrack. If your going to pick it up again I suggest that you challenge yourself to get faster by playing songs right on the edge of your ability level. I have always felt a great sense of satisfaction when moving up a difficulty level, and the challenge is what makes this game truly addictive.

Also, you are right about the party game potential. Though I prefer GH for its career modes I must say that 9 times out of 10 its the Rockband that comes out at parties. I find the band mode a little more even in Rockband and there always seems to be something on the set-lists to please even the most difficult of party guests. I suggest play GH 3 or GH World Tour for the solo career modes, and get Rockband 2/ Lego Rockband for the band play.

I am glad your thinking of giving the games another try I know this has been a long comment but I do love to talk about my plastic band…

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Maybe one day I’ll give the Rock Band stuff a shot if I know we’re going to have a bunch of people staying. Always looks like fun

Good read though